50 - Vignette- Post Game

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Misunderstandings

"No! Why is this girl so dense!?" Shiki almost rolled off the bed as she clutched the shoujo manga in her hands, glaring at it.

Good thing she didn't fall, because Neku was sitting on her floor, leaning against it and had been listening to his mp3.

He did this a lot with her, lately. He just came over and hung out. Her parents had been a bit anxious at first, her mum coming up to 'bring some snacks', though Shiki knew that in reality she was checking on them to make sure they weren't doing anything…weird. Her parents, once assured that nothing was going on, got used to it after a while, so they left the two alone.

Usually, Neku would just ignore her random comments about the manga she was reading, but this time she must have been so loud that he had heard her. He even took off his headphones to look at her. "What did she do?"

"Oh!" she said, taken aback by the sudden interest. "Well, the guy clearly asked if she would go out with him. He took ages and ages trying to work up the courage to and then she said - 'but we're already outside'. The guy was too embarrassed to clarify what he meant, poor guy."

"Maybe he should have been more straightforward about it," Neku said, dismissively.

"But he clearly wants to date her," she said, trying to get her frustration with the protagonist across. "He's so obvious. She can't possibly miss it."

"Obvious in what way?" asked Neku, showing more interest than Shiki would have thought was normal for him.

"Well - he gives her flowers all the time...I mean, they're in the gardening club together but he doesn't do it for just anyone. He's always the one to comfort her when she's upset and insecure. They're also really good friends even without the romance thing, "Shiki explained, faithfully recalling previous volumes of the manga."They were in a school play and he was the prince and she was the princess. During the play he kissed her even though it wasn't in the script. That should have been the winning sign but nooo the girl was all like 'oh it was just to improvise and make it more believable'. Seriously! How dense can you get?"

"Sounds tough for the guy." There was something about the tone Neku used that Shiki found strange, though she couldn't put her finger to it. "Still, I think it'd be more obvious he was more direct."

"How would he do that?" asked Shiki feeling exasperated. Neku just had to pin it on the guy, didn't he?

"I'm sure he'd find a way," said Neku thoughtfully.

"Oh yeah? What would you do if you were him?"

"Well, I would take the girl by her hands." At that point Neku took her manga and dropped it on her bed, pulling her by her hands so that they were both standing. Eh?

"Look her straight in the eyes." His gaze met hers with an intensity she couldn't recognize - one that made her heart thud a lot faster.

Neku…?

"And say...I love you."

And all of a sudden it felt like she was flying. There was only her and Neku in the world and nothing could ruin this perfect moment. Absolutely nothing.

"I love you, too."

...

...

...

"-I -is what the girl would probably say to you, I mean. You're totally right. If the guy said something along the line of what you s-said…his feelings would definitely get through to the girl!"

Oh gosh. She almost thought that Neku was actually saying those words to her. She pulled her hands away, embarrassed, and cupped her reddening cheeks, trying to cool them down.

Why did I do that?

He was just trying to show her what he meant – she didn't need to take it to heart!

Might as well own up to it before he started teasing her.

Feeling a sense of dread, she turned around only to find Neku just as red-faced as her.

"Sorry!" they both said simultaneously.

"I misunderstood and thought that you were really saying those words to me so the words just sorta came out! Just forget about what I said if it'll make you feel awkward – huh? You're sorry?" Shiki had continued apologising until she had realised that he had apologised too. "Why?"

"No, it was me who misunderstood. For a second there I thought you were actually telling me you loved me and I kind of got really happy all of a sudden. Just ignore me."

Hold it!

Shiki and Neku simply stared at each other as the realisation hit them both. From what they both had just said, didn't it mean that they mutually liked each other?

Right?

Right!?

The shoujo manga was taunting them both from its spot, as if saying 'not so easy now, is it?' Don't underestimate Shiki Misaki, the girl thought.

"Will you go out with me?" Shiki blurted out. "And I don't mean going outside! I mean romantically!"

Hah! I said it! Oh crap…she actually said it.

Neku raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's certainly one way to be direct."

"Uh…Neku…you could, you know…um…answer me." Before my face explodes.

"Oh, r-right, sure." Oh, Neku. "I mean, yes. Yes! I'll go out…with…you…" All composure seeming to have evaporated, Neku seemed awkward when facing the real concept of going out.

But that was a yes!

"So…that…makes me your girlfriend now," said Shiki, testing the sound of it out. Neku's girlfriend. The thought sent her soaring again. "Woah."

Neku looked awed too.

It comforted Shiki, knowing that both of them were on equal terms for the start of this new part of their relationship.

But just so that he doesn't misunderstand what this means…

Shiki walked right up to Neku, pulling him down for a kiss, closing her eyes. After a moment, he placed a hand behind her head and kissed her back.

Yep.

Neku definitely understood.


A/N: Tadaa! Happy 50th Chapter for Stitched Graffiti! At this point we have reached halfway through this collection. I didn't think I'd even get this far, but I'm so glad that I have. Anyway, it took me a while to get this chapter up, because had to think a bit about how I wanted this to go. I'm really happy how this turned out though. And hey, now it's 7 days until my birthday. Woot.

Self-plugging time: Since I've finished Sanctuary, I've started a new multi-chap fic called Deck 104 which will be as good if not better than Sanctuary, so please do check it out :'D

Thank you to all my readers! And thanks to ElementLegend, A Paper Flower, B.A.G-GOMEZ, RagnartheSemiGreen, Omega Zekrom, Xerzo LotCN, The Professor of time and I'll Break Your Heart for reviewing in the last chapter. I hope everyone had a Happy New Year and let's all look forward to 2014 with more Stitched Graffiti!

Dina (18/1/2014)